“From the ranks of this society your humble servants have been given the unpleasant and difficult task of editing this paper which we shall call the Rattlesnake Blizzard.

“As this office was forced upon the editors and items are hard to get, and when obtained it takes all the constructive power, and a little more than the writer has, to put them together, the members need not be astonished at the end of this term to see two shattered invalids, or raving maniacs roaming about the country in wild despair [sic], seeking lost health and long forgotten happiness. Of course those whose sterling worth, honesty, mental and other qualities exceeds those of others are called upon to fill the honorable, now paying position of editors . . . .”

“The Pop-gun is the paper of the people, by the people, and for the people; Now friends how can you stand back when you know what is best for U [sic].”

The paper ends with this statement:

“We desire to thank those who have so cheerfully contributed to these columns. Without the aid of all the members it would be impossible for one to produce a piece of work such as the society will expect of their servants. We have consigned nothing to the waste basket and have carefully looked over the almanacs and magazines in securing our material for this issue of the paper. Now as we are about to step out we [sic] our successors a successful term and have a liberal patronage. The present editors will hereafter be seen wandering about seeking lost health and long forgotten happiness. Thanking you for the patronage we have enjoyed we now retire with the greatest of pleasure.”

From the “Editorial” on page 2 (see image below): “With this issue we bring before the public the first No. of the Honey-Bee, edited by the Young Ladies of the Independant (sic) Literary Society. ” The editor continues, ” . . . having had no experience whatever in the Newspaper business, we ask the kind indulgence of our friends, should we not meet their most sanguine expectations.”

Honey Bee (OR, 1874)

Bibliography: None

Locations: Special Collections, University of Oregon Library, Eugene, OR

Size and Format: Ink on foolscap; single column; twelve copies of each issue; number eight contains 13 pages

Editor/Publisher: “Curltail Coon,” aka Charles Pickett (1845)

Title Changes and Continuation: None

General Description & Notes:

The Flumgudgeon Gazette and Bumble Bee Budget was the first publication in the Oregon Territory and appeared during the meeting of the Legislative Committee in 1845. The paper was subtitled, “A Newspaper of the Salmagundi Order, Devoted to Scratching and Stinging the Follies of the Times.” According to Brier, Picket published eight issues of the paper and made about 12 copies of each number. The paper was mainly a diatribe against the Legislative Committee of the Provisional Government of Oregon. The paper consisted primarily of satire designed to sting the legislators. Powell claims the paper “performed a useful service in pioneer Oregon by informing the settlers of the early activities of their government and by giving voice to opinions other than those of the legislators.”